[THE INVESTOR] A Chinese daily newspaper named Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy S9 smartphone as one of the best handsets released in the country over the first half of 2018, industry sources said on June 14.

According to the report by Southern Metropolis Daily, the Galaxy S9 received the highest grade among 10 major handsets studied, beating rivals in terms of design and innovation.

The Chinese newspaper said the Galaxy S9 received a grade of 139 points, complimenting the device for its innovative artificial intelligence features. Xiamoi’s Mi 8 followed with an overall grade of 134 points, with Huawei Technologies P20 posting 128 points.

Huawei’s P20, however, was considered to have a better camera than the Galaxy S9, as the Chinese device came with three lenses on the back.

The Southern Metropolis Daily report is significant as Samsung has been struggling to expand its presence in the Chinese market, as its performance in the region has faltered over recent years.

According to data compiled by industry tracker Strategy Analytics, Samsung posted a market share of 1.3 percent in China over the January-March period of 2018.